Cross-reactive rheumatoid factors in rheumatoid arthritis with extra-articular disease.
Rheumatoid factors (RF) have been shown to have considerable heterogeneity and bind with IgG as well as with a variety of substances such as nuclear histone, non-histone nuclear protein, nitrophenyl groups or ssDNA. We describe evidence that polyclonal RF cross-reactive with ssDNA (CRRF) are widely distributed in a variety of rheumatic diseases, and that their serum level is significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with extra-articular disease. Although the mechanism of the cross-reactivity is not clear, the presence of CRRF could be a serological feature of a clinical subset of RA. The high prevalence rate of CRRF in RA with extra-articular disease also suggests its pathogenetic role in the extra-articular manifestation of this disease.
Kinoshita
M
M
Division of Immunology, National Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Aotsuka
S
S
Yokohari
R
R
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000276:immunology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000276:immunology*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor